Betts, Colorado headed to Nike TOC

Neil Devlin

December 18, 2021 @ 02:30 AM

A string of Colorado’s best seniors will be on display in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix. Beginning on Saturday, Dec. 18, the touted [player_tooltip player_id="95167" first="Lauren" last="Betts"] and Grandview will take on California’s La Jolla Country Day at 4:30 p.m., a first-rounder. The PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 1 missed the Wolves’ opening tournament in Texas. Also regarded in multiple circles as the top recruit across the country, the 6-foot-7 Stanford signee and National Team pivot has since been practicing, according to Wolves head coach Josh Ulitzky, and is ready for her final schoolgirl go-round. PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 3 [player_tooltip player_id="117679" first="Marya" last="Hudgins"] (an Oregon State signee) has led the Wolves (0-3) in scoring, 23.3 points per game along with 11.3 rebounds. Grandview also has Betts’ younger sister, Sienna, 6-3 and already near the top of PGH-Colorado 2025. She’s second on the team in scoring (8.0) and rebounds (8.7). Grandview, in the Nike TOC’s top bracket, won’t play an in-state game until January. Defending Colorado Class 5A champion Valor Christian and Raegen Beers (6-3) will meet Arizona’s Millennuim on Saturday morning at 10:30. Beers (PGH-Colorado 2022 No. 2) is headed to Oregon State and has collected 19.0 points and 15.0 rebounds in a 4-1 start. Valor and Grandview also will meet in Highlands Ranch on Jan. 8. The two also will play Mullen soon after the mandatory holiday break. Grandview will face the Mustangs on Jan. 5 and Valor will take its turn on Jan. 14. [player_tooltip player_id="95172" first="Gracie" last="Gallegos"], PGH-CO 2022 No. 4, UC-San Diego; [player_tooltip player_id="117681" first="Kilah" last="Freelon"], PGH-CO 2022 No. 5, Texas Tech; and [player_tooltip player_id="95170" first="Imani" last="Perez"], PGH-CO 2022 No. 8, Hawaii, have been consistent in a 5-0 start. The three have combined for 43.3 points, 20.6 rebounds and 4.1 blocks. The Mustangs will take on Anchorage Christian on Saturday at noon. Chaparral ([player_tooltip player_id="95182" first="Avery" last="Bang"], PGH-CO 2022 No.. 11), Doherty (Payton Stark, PGH-CO 2022 No. 10), Horizon (PGH-CO 2022 No. 36) and Pine Creek ([player_tooltip player_id="210293" first="Brynae" last="Stewart"], PGH-CO 2-23 NO. 9) also are in the field. On Saturday, it will be Chaparral vs. Chandler, Ariz., 1:30 p.m.; Doherty vs. Pinnacle, Ariz., 4:30 p.m.; Horizon vs. Basha, Ariz., 4:30 p.m.; and Pine Creek vs. Mission College Prep, Calif., 1:30 p.m.